www.johnmailander.com

John Mailander’s Forecast’s new album, Let The World In, is out now on CD, vinyl, and digitally. Forecast is a Nashville-based collective of visionary musicians led by acclaimed performer, producer, composer, educator, and recording artist John Mailander. Known for his voice on the fiddle and other stringed instruments, Let The World In sees him adding keys and electronics into the mix.

John Mailander’s Forecast features adventurous improvisations, singular collaborations, and genre-bending, joyful musical explorations. Forecast is John Mailander on fiddle, keys, and electronics; Ethan Jodziewicz on upright and fretless electric bass; Chris Lippincott on steel guitars, keys, and electronics; Mark Raudabaugh on drums and percussion; Jake Stargel on acoustic guitar; and David Williford on tenor saxophone and bass clarinet.

Blending melancholy and darkness with hope and joy, Mailander says, “This album is absolutely connected to larger themes to me, both in my personal life the past couple of years and in the greater world. All of the stress and noise politically, the overwhelmingness of re-entering life coming out of shutdown times, and the search for inner peace through it all. The music is the explanation of all of this; I’d like the album to remain open to personal interpretations of what that entails.”

Let The World In is the spiritual third in a trilogy of “Forecast” records (the band originally assembled for the live debut of John’s 2019 album Forecast) and the second “true” album as a band since 2021’s Look Closer, which was recorded during the pandemic.

John says in an interview with Donna Block on Medium, “The tones themselves on this record are grittier, bigger, and wider than our past records. From a playing perspective, I feel we collectively opened up to some darker emotions than before, reflecting outer and inner worlds — there’s more of a fearlessness this time around to lean into those uncomfortable feelings and sounds. There’s a catharsis in that.”

Let The World In is meant to be played as a whole listening experience. With nine tracks, four of which are shorter free improvs, all but “Road” (a Nick Drake song) are original instrumentals. Produced by Mailander, Let The World In was recorded by Brook Sutton at The Studio Nashville, assisted by Will Tyson and Maeve Graham. It was mixed by Daniel Rice and mastered by Wayne Pooley. Recorded February 11-14, 2024. Play this album loud.

Along with “conducting” the Forecast, Mailander is a member of Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers. His playing can be heard on albums by Billy Strings (including the Grammy-winning album Home), Noah Kahan, Joy Williams, Lucy Dacus, Molly Tuttle, Joe K. Walsh, Chatham County Line, and many more. John is on tour this fall and winter with Sam Grisman Project.

What Folks Are Saying:

“stirring, genreless mix…almost like one continuous suite… exploratory, psychedelic, connected throughout, and at times mind-bending… One needs to listen to this transportive album in its entirety. It will take you to many places, those places changing on repeat listens.”
—Jim Hynes, Making a Scene 

“Through eight instrumental tracks (and a cover of Nick Drake’s “Ride”) they send listeners on an introspective journey throughout Let The World In that brings the jazz leaning work of Hornsby and jam-fueled tendencies of Phish together, showing just how far he and Forecast have grown and evolved since first coming together.”
—Matt Wickstrom, The Bluegrass Situation, Cover Story: “John Mailander’s Improvisational Forecast Says ‘let The World In’”

“The sextet’s new album Let the World In sits firmly within the tradition of jazz albums like Bill Frisell’s 1991 Where in the World? and John Scofield’s 1992 Grace Under Pressure, not to mention vibraphonist Gary Burton’s 1967 jazz-meets-country collection Tennessee Firebird.”
—Edd Hurt, Nashville Scene

“The full tracks on the album are punctuated by brief improvisations, captured during the band’s recording sessions. They allow a glimpse of the musicians coming together as solo artists to become a unified organism, generously letting the world come in for a closer look at their creative process.”
—Nancy Posey, No Depression

“John Mailander’s Forecast Turn Nick Drake’s ‘Road’ into Jam Catalyst, Drop Dalí-esque Animated Music Video”
—Relix

“Majestic and expansive [‘Road]”
—JamBase

“Meditative, transcendent, transportive.”
—Brian Carroll, Red Line Roots

For more information and updates, please visit www.johnmailander.com, www.facebook.com/johnmailandermusic, www.instagram.com/johnmailander.